The Answers to Your Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Find everything you might want to know before booking an appointment. If your question isn’t here, book a free discovery call to learn more.
Do you accept insurance?
I’m an out-of-network independent physician who works directly for my patients. However, I provide you with a coded superbill after every visit so that you can submit to your health insurance for reimbursement. Additional helpful information on superbills can be found here. This lets me spend more time with you, and gives me the freedom to recommend what’s best for you — not what’s best for an insurance company’s profit margin.
What is the cost of office visits?
- An initial appointment is $700 for a 45-minute visit.
- An extended 2-hour initial visit is $950 — consider this if you’re traveling from out of state to establish care, have a more complicated health history, or simply want more time.
- Follow-up visits are $350 for 45 minutes.
Where is your office located?
My office is at the corner of West Harrison Avenue and Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans (100 W. Harrison Ave, Suite 201). There’s a set of stairs leading up to the office; telehealth appointments are available to anyone who may have trouble with the stairs.
What is your policy on supplements?
There’s a growing problem in integrative and functional medicine where practitioners generate income by selling the supplements and lab tests they recommend. I think that practice is unethical: when practitioners rely on supplement income, they tend to recommend more than a patient needs — making care unnecessarily expensive, complicated, and sometimes harmful.
I recommend supplements from Moss Nutrition, a family-owned business that has earned my trust over many years by formulating excellent, safe products that consistently help my patients. My patients receive 30% off all Moss Nutrition supplements. That discount comes out of my own commission — so you can trust that when I recommend a supplement, it’s because I think it will help you, not because I’m trying to make money. You deserve a doctor who has your best interest in mind.
Should I have labs done before seeing you?
No. It’s my policy never to order labs before seeing a patient, so I can make sure you aren’t wasting time or money on unnecessary testing. I’m happy to review testing you’ve already completed, then I’ll order any labs I feel you need.
How do I communicate with Dr. Joe in between office visits?
Patients can message me directly through the patient portal. I also offer free discovery calls so you can ask questions about my practice or get a feel for whether I’m the right doctor to help you or your family. You’re also welcome to email me directly at office@doctormather.com.
Does Dr. Joe write prescriptions?
Yes — prescription medications may be part of your treatment plan. There are many times when lifestyle and natural treatments are my preferred approach, and other times when prescriptions are the fastest, most efficient way to heal. I don’t write prescriptions for controlled substances.
I'm from out of state, how do I work with Dr. Joe?
Patients regularly travel to New Orleans to work with me. State law requires an in-person initial visit for patients living outside Louisiana and Texas, after which follow-up visits can be done through telemedicine. Many out-of-state patients choose the extended 2-hour initial visit so their first trip covers as much ground as possible.
I live abroad, can I work with Dr. Joe?
Yes — I work with international patients through telemedicine consults. Because I’m not able to write US prescriptions for you without an in-person visit, telemedicine works best for patients who are primarily looking for guidance on lifestyle, diet, and supplement strategy, or for reviewing labs and records.
Do you offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Louisiana and Texas patients can establish care and be seen entirely through telemedicine if they prefer. Out-of-state and international patients typically need one in-person initial visit, after which follow-ups can be done by video. I’ll let you know which visits make the most sense as we build your treatment plan.
Does Dr. Joe order CIRS Labs for Mold patients?
I don’t run the traditional Shoemaker CIRS lab panel as a rigid, one-size-fits-all protocol for every mold patient — in my experience, ordering every marker on every patient wastes time and money without changing the treatment plan. Instead, I tailor mold-related testing to your specific history and symptoms, drawing on validated tools like urine mycotoxin testing when the results will actually change what I recommend.
Do you treat children?
Yes! That said, I’m not set up to act as your child’s general pediatrician for well checks or vaccination schedules.
Do you offer acute or urgent care?
My practice is built to help patients heal from chronic disease and optimize their health — I see many people who have fallen through the cracks of the current system. I’m not a good match for those who need acute or urgent medical care.
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A doctor who cares about science
Working as an independent physician gives me time to study and keep learning new ways to help my patients. I’m proud to have contributed to our understanding of the gut–thyroid axis in a paper published in 2022.
I graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health in 2011 and completed my Family Practice training in 2014. I treat many conditions, with particular expertise in GI health and mold and heavy-metal toxicity. When I’m not with patients, you’ll find me playing with my three kids, exercising, meditating, or playing the drums.
